Martin O'Neill 'unhappy' over Celtic transfer deal after Michael Nicholson plays role in failing over key target

Celtic have suffered their latest setback in the transfer market after their pursuit of Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis collapsed, with the Lithuanian now expected to remain in Serie A.

The midfielder had been on the Hoops’ radar for much of the summer as boss Martin O’Neill looked to reshape his midfield. The Irishman was understood to be keen on bringing Gineitis to Parkhead, viewing the 21-year-old as a player capable of adding energy, technical quality and further depth to the middle of the park.

However, despite the prolonged interest, the Scottish champions were unable to take negotiations to a stage where a deal could be completed.

There were reportedly no personal terms agreed between Gineitis and Celtic, while the club’s negotiations with Torino failed to progress sufficiently. As a result, the possibility of the midfielder arriving in Glasgow today has now effectively disappeared.

It represents a frustrating outcome for O’Neill, particularly given the importance attached to strengthening the squad during the summer window. Gineitis was considered an attractive option because of his age and potential. The Lithuania international has already established himself in Torino’s first-team plans and has experience of playing in one of Europe’s major leagues. That made him a potentially valuable addition, both in the short term and with an eye on future development.

Torino, meanwhile, were always likely to demand a suitable proposal before considering the departure of a player they continue to regard highly. Gineitis has featured for the Italian club this season, further underlining his importance to their plans.

The collapse of the deal will inevitably lead to further scrutiny of Celtic’s transfer operation fronted by CEO Michael Nicholson, who remains one of the most senior figures responsible and has become a natural focus for fans’ frustration. Criticism has been less about individual signings and more about the perception that Celtic lack a coherent, proactive recruitment strategy, with Nicholson held accountable for that.

The club have endured a summer in which several areas of the squad required attention, yet some of the most important recruitment work has taken place late in the window. That has created frustration among supporters and, reportedly, inside the first-team camp.

According to CeltsAreHere, O’Neill is believed to have been particularly “unhappy” with the lack of new arrivals before Celtic’s Champions League qualifier against LASK Linz. It’s claimed the 74-year-old made his feelings clear to the board, arguing that the outcome of the European campaign could have been different had some of the players eventually been recruited earlier.

It is a strong assessment, but it highlights the manager’s concerns over preparation and squad building.

Celtic have continued to strengthen their squad since losing 5-4 on aggregate to the Austrians last month, but the timing of those additions has remained a talking point.

Gineitis now appears destined to be another missed opportunity. There is no suggestion that the player was reluctant to make the move. Instead, the failure to reach an agreement stems from Celtic’s inability to move the negotiations forward at the crucial stage.

For O’Neill, that will be particularly disappointing given his apparent belief that Gineitis could have played an important role this season. The combination of youth, experience and potential made him an appealing target, but Celtic ultimately failed to get themselves into a position where the transfer could be completed.

With the window nearing its conclusion, Celtic are unlikely to identify an alternative in time. For now, though, Gineitis will remain a Torino player — leaving O’Neill without another midfielder he wanted and raising fresh questions about whether Celtic’s recruitment operation is moving quickly enough to match the veteran boss’ ambitions.

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